DISTRICT 18 REPORT ~ MAY 2015 Senator Michelle Kidani (D) Senate District 18 – Serving Mililani Town, Waipio Gentry, Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia Aloha friends and neighbors, As you will see in this newsletter, there is quite a bit of news to catch up on this month. First, let me note that some highlights of the Legislative session as they affect District 18 can be found on page 2 of this newsletter. We ended the session earlier this month with a change in leadership as Senator Ron Kouchi was elected Senate President. I remain as Chair of the Committee on Education, and will take on new responsibilities as Vice Chair of the Committee on Consumer Protection and Health. The two high schools in our communities ended the year on truly impressive notes. First, a new report on college and career readiness shows that Hawaii’s students have made significant improvements in reading and math scores, early college credit attainment and college enrollment. The report listed Waipahu High School as one of five schools that made significant gains of ten percentage points or more in college enrollment over the last 2 years. About 43 percent of Waipahu grads went to college after high school in 2012. The Class of 2014 sent 53 percent of its graduating seniors to college – a terrific percentage increase and true validation of Principal Keith Hayashi and his team that have focused on these outcomes over the last few years. I look forward to congratulating the Waipahu Class of 2015 at the Blaisdell Center later this week, just as I did at the Mililani High School commencement ceremony over the past weekend. Two notes regarding Mililani High – we have been congratulating Principal Fred Murphy for his leadership that has led to the school being ranked top public high school in Hawaii by US News & World Report. The publication measures student achievement based on math and reading proficiency, how well the school accommodates all of its students – not just those on the college track – and Advanced Placement class offerings and student participation in the AP program. This recognition of academic quality is well-deserved. It’s become a hallmark of the solid educational experience that Mililani offers our youngsters. MHS students also received word that for its exemplary record of leadership, service and activities that improve the school and community, the Associated Students of Mililani High School – the MHS Student Council – has been awarded a 2015 National Gold Council of Excellence Award by the National Association of Student Councils. We applaud these achievements by Mililani students both in the classroom and in their school and home communities. Me ke Aloha Pumehana, The Senate 28th Hawaii State Legislature Members of the Senate gathered for a final group photograph as the 2015 regular session adjourned. New leadership is in place, with Senator Ron Kouchi (to my right, front row with the yellow lei) assuming the presidency. Notes from the Capitol ~ Focus on Education With the adjournment of the Legislative session earlier this month, I am now able to report on some of the measures that will affect us in Senate District 18. When I accepted the Chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Education, I focused much of my attention on strengthening early learning programs. In a tight budget year we did have some limited success, highlighted by the agreement to restore $6 million to fund the Preschool Open Doors (POD) program for another year. POD has helped mitigate the negative impact of new rules for junior kindergarten enrollment that went into effect this year – affecting as many as 4,000 youngsters statewide. The state still needs a comprehensive plan for early learning, and we passed another bill to officially establish a prekindergarten program under the Office on Early Learning that will be administratively assigned to the Department of Education next year. New projects funded in the two-year budget or through grants-in-aid include: $350,000 for upgrades to the Waipahu High School Culinary Academy $1.45 million for a new covered walkway at Kaleiopuu Elementary in Village Park $1.5 million for plans and design work for 15 new classrooms at Mililani Middle School $500,000 for a school-wide upgrade to the electrical system at Mililani Uka Elementary $24 million for the UH West Oahu Allied Health and Administration building $50,000 for technology center upgrades at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu $140,000 for renovations in the performing arts facilities at the Hawaii Okinawa Center in Waipio $17.25 million for land acquisition and construction for the rehabilitation or replacement of Kipapa Gulch (Roosevelt) Bridge One bill we passed will have an effect on many families in the Mililani area as we phase out the so-called multi-track school calendar at Mililani Middle School and the three other Oahu schools where it is in effect. The scheme as it was originally envisioned was supposed to maximize use of school facilities with a minimum of break time during the school year. Teachers and administrators were clear in their message that the year-round schedules were not workable for faculty, facilities and families – and not especially effective in student achievement either. The $1.5 million in the construction budget (above) is a first step in plan- ning to accommodate all middle school aged students on the DOE’s regular instructional calendar. Mililani and Waipahu student athletes excelled on the playing field during the spring sports season Mililani teams earned their way to three more OIA championships – varsity softball and boys and girls tennis. In winning the OIA West and finishing the state tournament as runner-up, the varsity softball team placed a total of nine players on OIA and All-State teams as selected by league coaches and the media statewide. The Trojan tennis teams won both the girls and boys OIA team championships, including wins in the OIA West boys and girls doubles championships as well. Tennis coach Jason Agsalda was named Coach of the Year for both the boys and girls West Division; 15 players – including girls Player of the Year Haley Fujimori – Senator Donovan Dela Cruz joined me to say a big mahalo were named All-Stars. to Chelsea Robinson of Mililani who worked in my office Mililani golfers placed six boys and six as an intern during the Legislative session. Chelsea is a girls – including OIA West Division Player of the Hanalani Schools grad who just finished her sophomore year Year Mari Nishiura – on All-Star rosters. at HPU majoring in Political Science and Communications. Also, six players from the She got a good taste of Legislative work while assisting with boys volleyball team were our Education Committee work. Thank you, Chelsea! named to OIA West All-Stars. Waipahu High School also placed six Update: Mililani recycling players on the OIA volleyball All-Star team With the closure of the Reynolds Recycling location lists; and seven Marauder players were at Town Center of Mililani, residents are being named to the OIA West softball All-Stars. directed to RRR Recycling Services at the Park and We know it takes a lot of hard work and Ride lot in Mililani Mauka. The center has discipline to participate in after-school athletics expanded its hours ofAll operation packed up and is now open and that team members need to maintain good seven days a week toand accommodate ready for the anticipated pickup in the academic standing to play. Congratulations to increase in customers: Monday – Friday 9:15-4:45, and on weekends 8-3:30.Capitol entry everyone who commits to the team! Reason to celebrate Mililani High School Class of 2015 ~ Aloha Stadium, Sunday May 24 Proud parents and other family members headed off to Aloha Stadium on Sunday to congratulate the equally proud senior Class of 2015 as their high school years officially came to an end. As noted elsewhere in the newsletter, the school has enjoyed an exceptional year both academically and in the successes of its athletic teams. Our Mililani community has embraced the school for its positive, nurturing environment that encourages creativity and values hard work that will serve its students well as they take next steps to fulfilling dreams. Congratulations and thanks to teachers and school leadership for a great year! I was in the huge audience of teachers and guests from central Oahu schools when the HSTA recognized teacher excellence as the school year comes to an end. It was a fun event with many tables of teachers dressed in a variety of themed costumes, adding to the color and excitement. These five from Mililani schools were among those honored: Darlene Fujimoto, Mililani High (a favorite teacher of both my daughters!); Rosanne Oda-Ching, Mililani ‘Ike Elementary; LynnYoshioka, Mililani Middle; Bao Nguyen, Mililani Uka; and Jennelle Ichishita, Mililani Waena. It came as a total surprise to Hanalani Schools Principal Winston Sakurai when he was named 2016 Hawaii State Principal of the Year by the Hawaii Association of Secondary School Principals. Winston has been upper school principal since 2008. The campus in Mililani has seen great progress in education and college preparedness under his leadership Mililani Girls Varsity with – fully 100 percent of graduates are accepted to Coach of the Year Ray Akiona a college or university. The Island Insurance Foundation announced its annual Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Awards earlier this month. One of the semi-finalists this year is Kanoelani Elementary School Principal Stacie Kunihisa (surrounded by her students and colleagues at left); she received a $2,000 cash award. We are so proud that yet another school administrator in our district has been recognized for her vision, commitment to community and entrepreneurial spirit.